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Environment and climate change
2015 was a historic year for multilateralism and for sustainable development seeing the adoption in September of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the successful conclusion of the 21 Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) with an agreement on a multilateral legal framework.
Every year we celebrate World Oceans Day to remind everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. In return we owe it to the ocean to take action to protect it as best we can. The EU plays an important part in ocean activism. Three years ago, together with the High Representative Federica Mogherini, the EU set out an International Ocean Governance agenda, for the future of our oceans, proposing 50 actions for safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed oceans in Europe and around the world.
We have one Earth… and we all share it. Many environmental challenges are global by nature, and can only be tackled through a comprehensive approach that works far beyond the borders of the EU, like the issue of climate change. As we mark World Environment Day, Climate Diplomacy Weeks are underway and several EU Delegations and partners around the world are actively doing their bit for the environment and to protect our planet.
Cities emit 70 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide, and by the year 2050, more than two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. Although they represent a significant part of the climate crisis, cities also have the opportunity to be a critical part of the climate change solution. Many cities throughout the United States and Europe have been pioneering innovative technologies and new solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and becoming “smart cities.”
What do the European Union and the Smurfs have in common? Both identify with the colour blue, and both care deeply about the health of our blue planet. And now they are shaking hands to clean up beaches across the world and encourage people to protect our ocean!
Around 8 million tons of plastic enter the sea every year... mostly ending up on our beaches... Collective action is needed! Throughout the months of September and October, leading to the Our Ocean Conference in Bali, several EU Delegations worldwide were actively cleaning seashores and riverbanks together with their families, and locals and organisations who worked jointly to make our ocean a better place for marine life... These efforts have now been marked on the European Atlas of the Seas’ last “Map of the Week” for 2018!
A 30 second round up video of Climate, peace and security conference.
